Mother 1915

Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin painted this image, called 'Mother', with oil, at some point in his career. I like how the whole thing kind of glows, like she's lit from within. The colors are so interesting; they're not naturalistic, but they feel right. The red skirt, the blue blouse, it's all very deliberate. I'm drawn to the mother's face, there's a strength there, but also a kind of vulnerability. The brushstrokes are visible but delicate, like he's trying to capture a fleeting moment. Look at her hand holding the baby; it's painted with such care, you can almost feel the weight of the child. It's a very tender and intimate scene, but it also has a certain formality to it. Petrov-Vodkin reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker, they both find ways to take the every day and make it monumental. It’s a painting that invites you to slow down and really see. There's no one right answer, it's all up for grabs.